This recipe was passed down to my grandmother from her mother-in-law. We didn’t have it often, but it always stuck out in my mind because it was so yummy and the name was funny to me as a kid. Hope you enjoy my great grandma’s apple goodie cake.
After we moved up to Washington, I started to wonder more about this recipe and the great grandmother who had passed it down. I didn’t know my great-grandmother at all. Parts of my family would make the trek from Southern California to Oregon to visit her, so I learned about her from them. She had red hair, loved to cook and bake, had moved from Nebraska to Oregon, was part Dutch, and apparently did not like to talk about her past (mysterious!) .
When she passed away I learned that she had been active in various clubs and church activities. Did she get this recipe from a club member or church potluck? Or perhaps a neighbor? With a simple Google search, I read that apple goodie recipes are often attributed to the Amish, and usually it is made like an apple crisp. So this lead me to wonder if my great grandma adapted an apple goody crisp recipe to make a loaf.
I might never know how this recipe came to be in the family. I do know that making it helps me feel connected to a woman I never met, but wish I had. It’s also a reminder to myself to ask my grandmother all the questions about family, recipes, and her life that I can think of while she is still on this earth.
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Great Grandma’s Apple Goodie Cake
1. Gather ingredients.
I pulled more apples than I actually needed. To get three cups worth, I only used two medium sized apples.
One quarter cup of oats is also a bit much for the topping. One third of a cup would be fine.
2. Whisk two eggs.
Pretty self explanatory. Just whisk until yolk and white are blended well.
3. Pour in sugar.
In my ingredient photo I share a granulated sugar. However I actually used raw sugar because I had the exact amount remaining in an already open bag.
4. Add vanilla to the batter.
Vanilla extract is so expensive! I try to buy one or two bottles when I see them on sale.
5. Add in the flour.
Here is where the batter starts to look like batter!
6. Stir in baking powder.
This recipe calls for a ton of baking powder! My grandma and I wonder if it’s due to all the apples. If you know, drop me a line in the comments!
7. Slice apples.
Make sure not to use mushy apples, or else your bread will turn too soggy.
As for type of apples, Honey crisp is a great variety. Some enjoy the tartness of Granny Smith.
I leave my apple skins on, but some may prefer to peel them off. The skin of Honey Crisps are thin enough that you do not feel them in the cake.
Apples desserts are so quintessential fall! Check out this super easy baked apple recipe.
8. Pour in diced apples.
Next, pour in the chopped apples. I dice mine into cubes.
9. Cover batter with topping.
I forgot to show that I grease the loaf pan with butter. A baking spray is fine too.
Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Usually my oven bakes faster than recipes state, but this apple goodie cake took longer than my great grandma’s recommended 25 minutes! Perhaps I lost a step in the handing down of the recipe.
You might want to check on yours at the 25 minute mark and go from there.
You can see my kitchen helper pictured above, monitoring while I pour the topping onto the batter.
We try to involve the kids when we cook or bake. My son and I started a yearly ritual of making homemade applesauce together. Maybe my daughter and I will make baking the apple goodie cake our yearly fall tradition.
10. Cool and serve Great Grandma’s Apple Goodie Cake.
I enjoy my apple goodie cake in the morning with a cup of coffee. My son and daughter like theirs anytime of day with a cup of milk. And my husband adds a scoop of vanilla ice cream to his for a treat after the kids are down for the night- no little munchkins asking for a bite!
These cakes would make a great gift for a Thanksgiving hostess, Christmas or other winter holiday, a thank you gift, teacher appreciation. I found this baked good gift wrap set perfect for the Christmas season.
Shop Great Grandma’s Apple Goodie Cake
Click on the images below to shop. You will find loaf pans and gift wrap items like personalized gift tags and boxes.
Great Grandma’s Apple Goodie Cake Recipe card.
Great Grandma’s Apple Goodie Cake
Equipment
- 1 9×5 loaf pan
- 1 Medium bowl to mix wet ingredients
- 1 Small bowl to mix dry ingredients for topping
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Wooden spoon
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Set of measuring cups
- 1 Set of measuring spoons
- 1 Knife to chop apples and walnuts
- 1 Cutting board
Ingredients
- ½ cup Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Sugar
- 3 cups Diced apples I used 2 medium apples with the skin on
- 4 tsp Baking powder
- 2 tsp Vanilla
Topping
- ¼ cup Oats
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ cup Chopped walnuts optional
- ¼ cup Sugar
Instructions
Wet Ingredients
- Whisk 2 eggs in medium bowl.
- Add in 1 cup of sugar.
- Pour in 2 tsp vanilla.
- Add in 1/2 cup of flour.
- Chop apples into small cubes, then add to bowl of batter. Mix well.
Topping
- Roughly chop 1/4 cup of walnuts and add to small mixing bowl.
- Add 1/4 cup of oats to bowl.
- Pour in 1 tsp of cinnamon.
- Add in 1/4 cup of sugar.
- Mix all ingredients, then set aside.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Use baking spray or butter to grease the loaf pan. (I use straight up butter)
- Pour batter into pan, suing spatula to scrap the sides of the bowl.
- Cover the batter with the topping mixture.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Set loaf to cool completely before slicing.
Oh this looks so yummy! I love those old recipes that come from the past. They always taste so much better.
Thanks Carol. Indeed. And I appreciate that they were usually handwritten with a bit of kitchen stains
Yum! You had me at apple goodie cake. I am pinning this recipe for keeps!
Thank you Kippi! Hope you get a chance to try it 🥰